Blog Tour & Giveaway: Pretty Reckless by Jodi Linton

Welcome to Pistol Rock, Texas where secrets last about as long as the sporadic west Texas rain showers.

Laney Briggs has long been considered reckless, but she’s turned herself around—she’s respectably engaged and she’s become a Pistol Rock deputy sheriff. Everything’s fine until a dead body turns up and her ex, Texas Ranger Gunner Wilson, decides to stick his boots into the town’s first murder case.

Laney will be damned if she lets Gunner trample all over her turf and her chance at a quiet, contented life. His seemingly endless ability to undermine her resolve and her libido is only outdone by her constant urge to butt heads with him. But when the bodies start to pile up, Laney has to ask the lethal bad boy for a hand—and a truce in exchange for his help.

Having an ex-boyfriend as an ally might not be the best idea, but Laney has always been pretty reckless…

Amazon/B&N/Goodreads

About the Author:
Jodi Linton grew up across the street from a cow pasture, where she was more likely to be seen selling Kool-Aid in a Dixie cup at ten cents a pop, or inviting neighbors over to watch one of her plays staged on her father’s Bass boat.

In 2001, she traded in the rednecks, cowboys, and mesquite trees of her hometown to chase destiny out west. After a few years of mucking it around with the roughnecks, dust storms, and droughts, she decided to dust off her boots and head home. With a History degree in one hand and a marriage license in the other, she followed her husband in 2006 to central Texas the heartland, fabulous Austin.

After settling into the Texas Hill Country with her husband and two kids, she joined the Austin Romance Writers of America, and signed with The Belcastro Agency. Today she can be found cozied up to the computer escaping into a quirky world of tall tales, sexy, tight jean wearing cowboys, and a protagonist with a sharp-tongue quick enough to hang any man out to dry.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Pretty Reckless

Review (4 Stars): What a wild ride! I liked Laney a lot in this book because of her personality and the fact that she finds herself in the middle of a love triangle with two handsome men. Laney Briggs is a deputy for the town of Pistol Rock and is caught in the middle of a murder case that puts her working with her ex-boyfriend, Gunnar Wilson. Gunnar cheated on Laney many years ago and is back as a Texas Ranger to help solve the case and try to win back Laney. The problem is that Laney is engaged to be married to Nathan, the town’s veterinarian, and doesn’t need Gunnar coming back into her life and stirring up old feelings. She cares for Nathan but being around Gunnar stirs up feelings that she thought she was over and she doesn’t want to repeat her past mistakes with him. The murder case they are involved in is full of twists and turns and involves a hilarious cast of characters which makes Pretty Reckless an entertaining read. I was surprised at how fast I went through this book and I know you will too. I like Ms. Linton’s style of writing and looking forward to reading more about Laney in future books.

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March 27, 2014March 26, 2014

Blog Tour & Review: Tip of a Bone by Christine Finlayson

Buried bones, a missing eco-activist, and a deadly fire? It’s not what Maya Rivers bargained for when she moved to the coastal city of Newport, Oregon to reunite with her brother, Harley. Yet when Harley is accused of an unthinkable crime, Maya insists on adding “amateur sleuth” to her career options. It isn’t long before she discovers an eerie clue . . . but the closer she gets to the truth, the closer a murderer follows.

Amazon/B&N

About the Author:

Christine Finlayson borrowed from her “past lives” as a waitress, barista, environmental educator, and water scientist when creating her debut mystery novel, Tip of a Bone—a tale that takes place on the stormy Oregon coast. In her spare time, Christine loves to run on forest trails, watch waves break, compete in triathlons, and photograph anything Northwest-weird or wild. She’s now working on her second book, a novel of suspense.

Website /Blog/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Tip of a Bone

Review (4 Stars):The first thing that I liked about this book was that it takes place in Newport, Oregon which isn’t very far from where I grew up. Maya, the main character, has been struggling, trying to pick up the pieces after her divorce and working as a waitress at the Clam Strip Cafe. She spends her free time with her brother, Harley, trying to repair their relationship and hoping that her luck will change. Harley’s current involvement with the local activist group, The Coast Defenders, has Maya troubled especially since one of their members recently disappeared on a hiking trip. When a fire destroys a building and Harley is accused as the arsonist, it is up to Maya to help clear his name. But with each step, she finds that things aren’t what they seem and she may be the next person to disappear.

This mystery was a little on the darker side than the other mysteries that I have read but it doesn’t take away from this story. I liked Maya from the beginning even though things didn’t seem to be going her way. I liked her personality and the fact that she never gave up on clearing Harley’s name even though people were telling her to leave it alone. I enjoyed this mystery with all its twists and turns and I loved spending time with these characters in a city I know all too well.

March 27, 2014March 23, 2014

Interview & Giveaway with Jane Ashford

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome back Jane Ashford to the blog.

Jane, can you please share with us a little about yourself?

Jane: When I take those “what’s your ideal job” quizzes on Facebook, I get “writer.” Maybe it’s destiny. I’m an avid reader, too. A bit of an introvert. I like hiking in the wilderness. And cake. : )

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Jane: Yes. I’ve told and written stories for as long as I can remember.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

Jane: I don’t know if it’s interesting, but I often do an idea dump in contemporary language as I’m writing my historicals. For example, [hero] mouths off and acts like a total jerk until [heroine] tells him he can stuff it. Then I go back to expand and “historicize” it.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

Jane: The Bride Insists is a marriage of convenience story, about two people who have been deeply scarred by financial travails. They soon find passion, but must struggle toward understanding, and love.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

Jane: It came from that Regency slang phrase “the Marriage Mart.” I thought, what if a woman actually set out to “buy” a husband? How would that happen? And how would it play out?

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

Jane: I’m working on a new Regency historical for Sourcebooks called Married to a Proper Stranger. It’s about a couple married less than a month when the husband is sent off to China with Lord Amherst’s diplomatic mission. Almost two years later, he’s back – a changed man. His wife is equally altered by her experiences at home. So what’s to be done when you find yourself married to an intriguing, infuriating stranger?

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

Jane: I’d like to tell Laurie King how much I love and admire Folly.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone who wants to get into writing?

Jane: Be sure you like solitude and can motivate yourself to get the work done. And never give up.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

Jane: I’d like to visit Bali. It sounds like a culture so permeated by art.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

Jane: I read all kinds of things. One book I’m eagerly anticipating Skin Game by Jim Butcher. I love Harry Dresden. Anyone see the TV series?

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Jane: Thanks so much for having me!

*****

THE BRIDE INSISTS

IN STORES MARCH 2014

She Thinks She’s Bought a Compliant Husband

Although Clare Greenough has inherited an unexpected fortune, her money is in the hands of a trustee until she marries—everyone knows a woman is incapable of managing funds. What she needs is an easygoing husband, right away…

They’re Both in for a Shock

She makes a deal with impetuous young James Boleigh, seventh Baron Trehearth: they will marry, Clare will get control of her money, and Jamie will get the funds he desperately needs to restore his lands. To stave off ruin, Jamie agrees, believing Clare will soon become a proper, submissive wife. But to expect a serene, passionless marriage was only their first mistake…

Praise for The Bride Insists

“Perfectly delightful Regency romance… Remarkably executed.” —Publishers Weekly

“Ashford captures the reader’s interest with her keen knowledge of the era and her deft writing. … a charming plot and just the right amount of sensuality.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

“…a marvelously engaging marriage of convenience tale, and Ashford’s richly nuanced,

realistically complex characters and impeccably crafted historical setting are bound to

resonate with fans of Mary Balogh.” – Booklist

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jane Ashford discovered Georgette Heyer in junior high school and was captivated by the glittering world and witty language of Regency England. That delight was part of what led her to study English literature and travel widely in Britain and Europe. She has written historical and contemporary romances, and her books have been published in Sweden, Italy, England, Denmark, France, Russia, Latvia, the Czech Republic, and Spain, as well as the U.S. Jane has been nominated for a Career Achievement Award by RT Book Reviews. Born in Ohio, she now lives in LA. For more information, please visit http://janeashford.com/ or find her on Facebook.

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March 26, 2014March 14, 2014

Spotlight Feature of Burn for Me by Shiloh Walker

Burn for Me

Secrets & Shadows #0.5

Release Day April 1, 2014

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

Scarred long ago by the disappearance of his mother, Nichole, Tate Bell aches to spend his days and nights with Ali Holmes, a woman he’s loved for years. But while Ali’s heart pines to be with Tate, her head has reservations…

Ali knows that Tate has never forgiven his father for the fight he had with Nichole right before she left the house—and was never heard from again. Ali thinks that Tate’s unresolved anger is a force to be reckoned with…even though the heat that blazes between them is undeniable. Now both Tate and Ali are left to wonder: Can love really conquer all?

Read an excerpt here

Add Burn for Me to your Goodreads list

Professional Bio

Shiloh Walker is an award-winning writer…yes, really! She’s also a mom, a wife, a reader and she pretends to be an amateur photographer. She published her first book in 2003 and since then, has tried her hand at digital publishing, traditional publishing and self-publishing. Her publishers include Hydra Publications, Ellora’s Cave, Samhain, Berkley, Random House and St. Martins. She writes romantic suspense, contemporary and paranormal romance, and urban fantasy under the name J.C. Daniels.

Learn more about Shiloh:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

*****

Giveaway Details:

$25 GC to Amazon or BN, reader’s choice.

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March 25, 2014March 24, 2014

Interview with Robyn Carr

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Robyn Carr to the blog for her first visit! We are chatting about her newest book Four Friends. You can learn more about Robyn on her website.

Q: This is a novel about relationships. Romantic relationships. Friendships. Relationships with family. Is it hard to write the ins and outs of important and sometimes painful relationships? How do you do it?

A: Oh, this is what I love. Frankly I have a harder time writing romance than women’s fiction like Four Friends. For whatever reason, I’m acutely aware of the complexities of relationships. Life can be so messy and grievous sometimes, but it doesn’t have to spell doom. I read a book many years ago about the study of happiness or the psychology of the optimal experience. The question that drove the study was something like this: What is it that makes a woman who has suffered a divorce unable to get off the couch for ten years yet a woman of the same age who has survived Auschwitz goes on to live a fulfilling and satisfying life? I know these people—they’re all over my life and their stories are told constantly. Some people collapse and some rise to the occasion. I love creating new characters who face complicated human problems and through diligence and struggle find a way to make their lives well worth living.

But do I get a stiff neck as I’m marching them through the minefields of their difficult situations? Absolutely. Do I get tears in my eyes as they grieve and struggle? Yes! I also get tears when they approach the resolution that makes their lives a positive force, a joy. Getting from sometimes monumental problems to realistic and intelligent solutions is the greatest fun in my life.

Q: It’s often said that choosing whom you’ll marry is the most important decision of your life. Do you believe that? Do you think your characters believe that?

A: Oh, this is tough. I think choosing who to marry is powerfully important, but I’ve seen many, many women redefine their goals, reinvent themselves after making the wrong decision or the wrong choice. People make mistakes every day of their lives. The goal isn’t to never choose wrong or never to make a mistake, the healthiest life goal is to learn from those mistakes and emerge stronger and better and wiser.

I married at the age of twenty. It turned out to be the right choice; that turned out to be a miracle. A gift. Certainly a twenty-year-old girl doesn’t know what she’s doing when choosing a husband. And my husband was no smarter! We were very lucky we could make that work. In every marriage on record there will come a time (if not many times!) when you’ll rethink that decision and ask yourself just what you were thinking! Sometimes, you’ll say, I was damn lucky. In some marriages the question will linger and refuse to go away and ultimately it can be time to admit it was all wrong and move on to form stronger and healthier relationships.

In Four Friends some of the characters must admit they had chosen wrong, some will be so grateful for their choice. All of them will emerge stronger and wiser. And happier.

Q: Of the four women in this novel, which is the most like you? And which of them would you most like to be real friends with?

A: I’m not like any of them! There are characteristics in each of them I admire, but that’s the beauty of being a storyteller. If I’m in an argument with my husband, we’ll stumble and fumble, say the dumbest things, the cruelest things, botch everything or even have a brilliant moment or two. But in a story, I have days to write the dialogue between characters and in the end they say things I wish I had been smart enough to say, intuitive enough to conclude. The characters are smarter and quicker than I am! And they live such great lives—turning their foibles into victories.

I loved Gerri’s righteous anger. I loved Andy’s openness and willingness to take a closer look at who she has been in relationships. I loved Sonja’s tireless quest to keep her life meaningful and her generous spirit. I loved BJ’s courage. I loved the honesty of the psychiatrist and the wisdom of Murial, Gerri’s mother-in-law.

But if I wrote a character who resembled me, she would be so much more flawed! So dull!

Q: Without giving anything away, we will say that infidelity is a topic that comes up in the book. What made you decide to include this? Is it because a lot of women deal with this?

A: Every woman will deal with it on some level! If it doesn’t happen to us it has happened to someone we know, often someone we only know about. We have very strong opinions about it—very strong! I’ve heard many women say, “I’d kill him.” Or, “That’s a deal breaker!” And yet the percentage of marriages in which this has been a problem at one time or another is huge. I went into this book asking, “What would this character do? Is this pathology an opportunity for this character? Or is it the straw that breaks the camel’s back? Are there components in this problem that can make them stronger as a couple or is it the end of the line, turning everything she believed into a lie?”

The devil is in the details. Not knowing how it would all turn out, my job was to explore the details of this particular challenge.

Q: These women seem like people you would know from work or your neighborhood. And it’s because they all have problems like the rest of us. And yet, you help them deal with these problems so the book still has a message of hope. Do you think that’s something most women can have in their lives—hope that they can deal with hard things?

A: Yes I do, but hope comes in all shapes and sizes, doesn’t it? Hope for one woman is getting to the bottom of the flaw in the marriage that predisposes the cheating, hope for another is understanding, with great disappointment, the marriage cannot work. Ultimately hope lies in knowing yourself, knowing your limits and potential, knowing what really drives you toward a fulfilling and satisfying life, knowing and believing in your personal values. In this game, everyone gets a life! Not just the boys or the kids or the boss! Everyone deserves quality of life; everyone deserves the chance to live a full, rewarding life. And that’s a very individual thing.

*****

Four Friends

Amazon | B&N

Gerri can’t decide what’s more devastating: learning her rock-solid marriage has big cracks, or the anger she feels as she tries to repair the damage. Always the anchor for friends and her three angst-ridden teenagers, it’s time to look carefully at herself. The journey for Gerri and her family is more than revealin—it’s transforming.

Andy doesn’t have a great track record with men, and she’s come to believe that for her a lasting love is out of reach. When she finds herself attracted to her down-to-earth, ordinary contractor—a man without any of the qualities that usually appeal to her—she questions everything she thought she wanted in life.

Sonja’s lifelong pursuit of balance is shattered when her husband declares he’s through with her New Age nonsense and walks out. There’s no herbal tonic or cleansing ritual that can restore her serenity—or her sanity.

Miraculously, it’s BJ, the reserved newcomer to Mill Valley, who steps into their circle and changes everything. The woman with dark secrets opens up to her neighbors, and together they get each other back on track, stronger as individuals and unfaltering as friends.

Don’t miss Kimberly’s review of Four Friends HERE

March 24, 2014March 23, 2014

Spotlight Feature of Mine to Crave by Cynthia Eden

*****

Mine To Crave

Mine Series, bk #4

New York Times best-selling author Cynthia Eden continues her dark and sexy “Mine” romantic suspense series with…MINE TO CRAVE.

HE TAKES WHAT HE WANTS.

From the moment that billionaire casino owner Drake Archer sees Jasmine Bennett, he’s obsessed. Consumed by desire for the mysterious redhead, Drake will do anything necessary to claim her. Yet as desire rages between them, danger is stalking ever closer. Drake’s past isn’t dead, and the ex-Special Forces agent will soon have to face the ghosts he left behind.

SHE’S HIDING SECRETS.

Jasmine isn’t who she pretends to be. She’s a woman on a mission—and she’s supposed to be stealing secrets from the mysterious Drake. Falling for him isn’t on her agenda, but when lust and love tangle together, all the rules get broken.

AN ENEMY IS CLOSING IN…

When Drake learns of Jasmine’s betrayal…all hell breaks loose. He knows that he should turn his back on her, but it’s too late for him. He can’t let her go, but he can teach her a lesson. No one betrays him…not without paying a heavy price. Drake will destroy all of the enemies on his trail, he’ll bury his past, and he’ll teach Jasmine to want only him…just as much as he craves her.

Make sure to check out Kelly’s review of Mine to Crave HERE

Available for purchase at

Excerpt

“I know what I
want.” Her voice was soft. Seductive.

Drake
stopped.

“I-I
have to ask, though…is that the way it works?”

His
back teeth clenched.

“The
ladies you take upstairs to your private room…they all ask?”

Those
women knew the rules going in. Sex. Hot. Fast. Hard. No promises. No ties.

Ties
were the last thing he wanted.

He
turned back to look at her. “You came to
this place looking for me.”

She
backed up a bit.

He
let his lips curl and knew his smile wasn’t going to be reassuring. “Be very
careful. You don’t want to play with me.”

He
expected her to scurry away then.

But her chin notched into the air.
“Maybe I do,” she said and her voice made his cock jerk. Sex and sin—that was
what she sounded like just then.

About the Author

USA Today Best-selling author Cynthia Eden has written over twenty-five novels and novellas. She was named as a 2013 RITA^® finalist for her paranormal romance, ANGEL IN CHAINS, and, in 2011, Cynthia Eden was a RITA finalist for her romantic suspense, DEADLY FEAR.

Cynthia is a southern girl who loves horror movies, chocolate, and happy endings. She has always wanted to write (don’t most authors say that?), and particularly enjoys creating stories about monsters–vampires, werewolves, and even the real-life monsters that populate her romantic suspense stories.

Cynthia’s foreign sales for her books include translations to Japan, Germany, Thailand, Greece, and Brazil.

(Back in the day…) Cynthia graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Alabama where she studied Sociology (because people interest her) and Communication (because she likes to write about said people). Cynthia has worked as a college admissions counselor, a teacher, and as an editor. But now, Cynthia is thrilled to be spending her days making up stories.

Giveaway

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March 22, 2014March 22, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: The Midnight Witch by Paula Brackston

“The dead are seldom silent. All that is required for them to be heard is that someone be willing to listen. I have been listening to the dead all my life.”

Lady Lilith Montgomery is the daughter of the sixth Duke of Radnor. She is one of the most beautiful young women in London and engaged to the city’s most eligible bachelor. She is also a witch. When her father dies, her hapless brother Freddie takes on his title. But it is Lilith, instructed in the art of necromancy, who inherits their father’s role as Head Witch of the Lazarus Coven. And it is Lilith who must face the threat of the Sentinels, a powerful group of sorcerers intent on reclaiming the Elixir from the coven’s guardianship for their own dark purposes. Lilith knows the Lazarus creed: secrecy and silence. To abandon either would put both the coven and all she holds dear in grave danger. She has spent her life honoring it, right down to her engagement to her childhood friend and fellow witch, Viscount Louis Harcourt.

Until the day she meets Bram, a talented artist who is neither a witch nor a member of her class. With him, she must not be secret and silent. Despite her loyalty to the coven and duty to her family, Lilith cannot keep her life as a witch hidden from the man she loves. To tell him will risk everything.

Amazon/B&N

TRAILER FOR THE MIDNIGHT WITCH

About the Author:

Paula Brackston lives in a wild, mountainous part of Wales. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Lancaster University, and is a Visiting Lecturer for the University of Wales, Newport. Before becoming a writer, Paula tried her hand at various career paths, with mixed success. These included working as a groom on a racing yard, as a travel agent, a secretary, an English teacher, and a goat herd. Everyone involved (particularly the goats) is very relieved that she has now found a job she is actually able to do properly.

When not hunched over her keyboard in her tiny office under the stairs, Paula is dragged outside by her children to play Swedish tennis on the vertiginous slopes which surround them. She also enjoys being walked by the dog, hacking through weeds in the vegetable patch, or sitting by the pond with a glass of wine. Most of the inspiration for her writing comes from stomping about on the mountains being serenaded by skylarks and buzzards.

In 2007 Paula was short listed in the Creme de la Crime search for new writers. In 2010 her book ‘Nutters’ (writing as PJ Davy) was short listed for the Mind Book Award, and she was selected by the BBC under their New Welsh Writers scheme.

Website/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of The Midnight Witch

Review (4 Stars): I thought that this was a beautiful and engaging story of a young woman who must accept her new role as the Head Witch of the Lazarus Coven after the death of her father. Lilith was very young to have all this responsibility placed on her shoulders and has to struggle against the expectations that so many have placed on her in this position. She was expected to marry her childhood friend but during the course of the novel falls in love with another. I couldn’t imagine dealing with all this responsibility but Lilith handled it with elegance and grace when her heart was breaking inside. I loved Ms. Brackston’s lustrous language and storytelling with these character, quickly finding myself lost within this magical story. I really enjoyed The Midnight Witch even though the pacing was slow at times but worth the journey in this haunting historical romance.

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March 19, 2014March 19, 2014

Guest blogger Elizabeth Michels talks about kisses and her newest release + a giveaway

I’m so excited to be here on Books-n-Kisses today to celebrate the release of the second book in the Tricks of the Ton series, Desperately Seeking Suzanna! And, what better juicy tidbits of this story to share with you on this fabulous blog than the first kiss scene between Holden and Sue. Technically, the first kiss in this story occurs on page 34 when Holden and Suzanna have an unexpected evening together at a masquerade ball…after she accidentally kicks him in the nose. But, when she disappears later that night, he spends the London season searching for her, only to find simple, girl-next-door, Sue Green, standing in his path.

Finally, on page 191, Holden realizes not only that Suzanna was a myth, but he has developed a fondness for the very real lady at his side on the bench in the garden…

She wasn’t sure at what point in his story she’d slid her hand down his arm to wrap her hand around his, but she glanced down to find their fingers entwined now. She should move. She should remove her hand from his grasp. Instead she squeezed his fingers and laid her other hand on his forearm, attempting to rub the tension away.

With his story came understanding. A few of the missing pieces that made him whole snapped together in her mind. Not all of them, but enough for now. “Your father can’t honestly hold you responsible for such a thing.”

“I can’t believe I told you any of this. What is it about you?” He glanced down at their joined hands, pulling away as if burned. Flexing his fingers for a moment, his gaze returned to her face with an intensity she hadn’t seen since they’d met on the stairs that night.

“Holden.” Her mouth went dry and she licked her lips. “This is why you try as you do to play the disreputable rake.”

“Might we return to the subject of wiggling toes?” His breathing seemed harsh as he looked at her.

“You wish to confirm your father’s presumptions about you. You try to sink to his expectations. I can’t say I blame you. I suppose…”

Unexpected warmth flooded her senses as he reached up to frame her face with his hands, pulling her closer. His kiss was harsh, punishing, but with a desperation she matched. She heard a startled whimper escape her throat as his lips moved over hers. Her hands fluttered in the air for a moment before landing on his chest. He pulled back, watching her. There was an awareness in his eyes that she didn’t quite trust, as if he remembered something he’d forgotten long ago.

Her lips parted in question, yet she had too many thoughts to ask. He’d released her lips but his hands held her head still. His thumbs brushed against the wisps of fallen hair at her temples.

Blinking up into dark green eyes and lips she wanted back on hers, she tugged on his lapels until his mouth met hers once more. He chuckled, the rough sound vibrating through her, only to be soothed by the softness of his mouth. His tongue traced the lines of her lips until she opened to him, allowing him in. Time must have passed but she was unaware of anything beyond his lips on hers.

His hands slid to the back of her neck as he tasted her, his warm skin heating hers more than a thousand suns. His lips slashed over hers, pulling her deepest desires from her, then delving for more. Exposed, in need, she bit at his bottom lip, dragging him into the spiral of longing with her. As if in a battle where neither side would surrender, she matched every movement he made. She’d learned. Whether he knew it or not, he’d been her teacher. Her hands were inside his coat now, splayed on his chest and slipping further around him with every passing second.

Nearness. That’s what she needed.

His body pressed close to hers. His hand moved down her neck, sliding down her back to rest on her hip. He pulled away with a lazy smile, his eyes darting across the garden. “Where’s a bedchamber when you need one?”

“Holden, we shouldn’t.”

“Yes, actually I believe we should.” He pulled her in for one more kiss, leaving her flustered, confused, and giddy.

She touched her fingers to her lips as he pulled away. He’d kissed her. Not Suzanna, her! Sue Green!

“For someone who hasn’t danced a quadrille before, you certainly are experienced,” he mused.

“You. Only you,” she whispered. Had she spoken aloud or only in her mind?

How do I go about writing a first kiss? There are 3 steps that lead to the creation of a scene like this one: longing, atmosphere and wine.

Longing- The characters have to earn that first kiss by surviving far too many pages of heartache. Readers have to want these two crazy characters to get together, and to cheer for it when it finally happens. Also, the characters have to finally reach that turning point in their relationship. This was a challenge in Desperately Seeking Suzanna because Holden had to have time to befriend Sue and then choose her over the image of Suzanna. And for a disreputable rake, he doesn’t move very fast. *grins*
Atmosphere- The couple must be alone with no prying eyes, preferably, in a location with a romantic atmosphere. This isn’t easy in Regency England when chaperones were required and matronly eyes were always watching.
Wine- This is the point when the characters have suffered, the setting is perfect, the couple is ready to turn that corner in their relationship, and I just need to pour a glass of wine, close the door to my office, and write it.

Thank you for hosting me on Books-n-Kisses today! I hope you enjoy Desperately Seeking Suzanna. What’s your favorite setting for a first kiss scene?

DESPERATELY SEEKING SUZANNA

IN STORES MARCH 2014

Her Cinderella Moment…

Sue Green just wanted one night to be the pretty one. But a few glasses of champagne and one wild disguise later, she’s in some serious trouble. Who knew the devastatingly handsome face of Lord Holden Ellis would get in the way of her foot? And how exactly did all that high-kick dancing start in the first place? At least she blamed it on her new persona—Suzanna—so Society’s most eligible bachelor will never find out the truth.

All Holden wants is the truth. Who was that vixen who seduced him so thoroughly, then disappeared? The only one who seems to have any answers about Suzanna is Miss Sue Green. She’s promised to help him find his mystery woman, but she’s not being all that helpful. And the more time Holden spends with Sue—witty, pretty, and disarmingly honest—the more he realizes he may have found exactly what he’s been looking for all along…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elizabeth Michels grew up on a Christmas tree farm in rural South Carolina. After tip-toeing her way through school with her focus on ballet steps and her nose in a book, she met a boy and followed him a thousand miles away from home to Kansas City, Missouri, before settling down in North Carolina. She attended Park University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Interior Design. Elizabeth is a lover of happily-ever-afters; she invites you to read her stories, get lost, and enjoy. For more information, please visit http://www.elizabethmichels.com/

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March 18, 2014March 18, 2014

Guest Blogger: Vicky Dreiling + giveaway

The Glamorous Life of an Author

by Vicky Dreiling

It is a truth universally acknowledged that authors lead glamorous lives.

Not even close. At least I don’t. Fear not, there are some perks to living the life of an author. Prior to my gig as an author, I actually wore business casual clothes and drove to an office. Sometimes I flew all over the US and to some swanky places in Europe like London and Paris. Eventually, I gave up my marketing gig for the high life as an author. Now I have a different wardrobe. Depending on the season, it might consist of sweats or shorts, but my favorite is my Tinkerbell nightgown. Hey, don’t judge!

As a published author I live for the thrill of…. the UPS man. I love him because he brings my author copies of my books. I’m amazed at how athletic these guys are. I tell myself Mr. UPS is not running away from a scary looking woman decked out in the author height of fashion: A pink bathrobe over sweats (that would be moi).

You might feel sorry for authors. After all we dwell in solitude all the day long or so you might think. I assure you I have friends—you know, the imaginary ones who snatch the metaphorical keys and take over the scene. It’s quite irritating, so I frequently put them in character time out. The last time I did that they revolted. Never fear, I bribed them.

I admit I had my hands full when Colin and Angeline arrived on the scene. Now I knew a few things about the couple. Their families had been close all of their lives, but my budding couple had been at odds for many years after an unpleasant incident at Angeline’s debut. To be honest, they loathed each other until they found themselves in difficult circumstances at the annual house party. Here’s an excerpt from WHAT A RECKLESS ROGUE NEEDS.

What a Reckless Rogue Needs

The Sinful Scoundrels #2

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Will the Rogue’s Perfect Plan…

Colin Brockhurst, Earl of Ravenshire, has no desire to wed, this season or any other. So when his father demands he give up his wild ways and take a wife, Colin refuses. But his father raises the stakes and threatens to sell the ancestral home if Colin doesn’t comply. Now Colin has no choice but to find a wife. Unfortunately, the only woman he wants is the one whose heart he broke years ago.

Lead to the Perfect Seduction?

Regardless of the ton‘s whispers, Lady Angeline Brenham won’t settle for anything less than true love. After rejecting more than her share of suitable suitors, spinsterhood looms before her—until the devilishly handsome Colin reappears in her life with a proposition. Angeline vows to keep her feet on the ground and her heart in check. That is, until one searing kiss melts her resolve and reignites a burning desire for more.

How about an excerpt from What A Reckless Rogue Needs:

As Colin drew nearer, recognition dawned. The candlelight burnished her brunette hair and shed a mellow glow over her creamy complexion. He felt as if she’d knocked the breath out of him. Hell, she’d literally done it when he’d tried to give her a chaste kiss beneath the Christmas mistletoe a few years ago. She’d always had a sharp tongue, and he’d remained wary of her with good reason.

Angeline curtsied and regarded him with a shrewd smile. “Bonsoir, mon ami.”

Their relationship had always been closer to adversary than friend, but he’d not seen her in a long time. There was no question that she’d grown even more beautiful.

Angeline offered her gloved hand, and he bowed over it. He flicked his eyes quickly over her generous bosom. Colin mentally reminded himself to keep his gaze a very safe distance above her low neckline. “I suspect you’ve had more than a few Parisian admirers.”

Her one-shoulder shrug was all Gallic. “The French have a proverb: ‘Beautiful grapes often make poor wine.’” A sly expression flitted through her green eyes. “So I avoid the grapes and drink the wine.”

“Clever,” he said.

Angeline clapped her hands twice. “Girls, repair to the drawing room. The marchioness is expecting us.”

He offered his arm to her. “Shall we?”

“I don’t know. You look as if you’re facing a prison cell rather than a drawing room.”

He said nothing, but he’d always dreaded visits to his father’s home. He’d been at Eton when his father remarried, and on his infrequent stays at Deerfield, he’d never felt he belonged. It wasn’t as if they were estranged; it was just circumstances. He’d always felt a bit awkward here, and as a result, he didn’t visit often.

They entered the drawing room to the delighted exclamations of Angeline’s mother—the Duchess of Wycoff—and his stepmother, Margaret, the marchioness. He noted the proliferation of gray in the duchess’s hair, and the fine hair on his neck stiffened. The scandal must have created a great deal of vexation.

“I daresay they make a handsome pair,” the duchess said.

Colin winced. When they were children, their deluded families had concocted the idea of a match between them, all because they were born only a week apart. But that had happened when they were mere babes, before his mother’s death and his father’s second marriage.

“Unfortunately, Colin and Angeline are about as compatible as two spitting cats,” the marquess said.

“Chadwick, please mind your words,” Margaret said. “Oh, look what you’ve started. The girls are hissing at each other. Bianca, Bernadette, you will cease.”

His father had spoken the truth. Beyond the annual house party and the spring season, Colin and Angeline had done their best to avoid each other over the years, though they had not been entirely successful. Despite her outward civility this evening, he knew her capacity for causing trouble, and he could not afford to be distracted. The fate of Sommerall hung in the balance.

Don’t miss Kelly’s review of What a Reckless Rogue Needs HERE

GIVEAWAY TIME

Make sure to leave a comment or questions for Vicky (plus your email). Vicky has 2 copies of What a Reckless Rogue Needs up for grabs 🙂

A little about Vicky:

Vicky Dreiling is a confirmed historical romance junkie and Anglophile. Frequent business trips to the UK allowed her to indulge her passion for all things Regency England. Bath, Stonehenge, and Spencer House are among her favorite places. She is, however, truly sorry for accidentally setting off a security alarm in Windsor Castle. That unfortunate incident led her British colleagues to nickname her “Trouble.” When she’s not writing, Vicky enjoys reading, films, concerts, and most of all, long lunches with friends. A native Texan, she holds degrees in English literature and marketing.

Email: vicky@vickydreiling.com

Publicist: Melissa Sangiocomo

Grand Central Publishing, Publicity
237 Park Avenue NYC, NY 10017

March 15, 2014March 14, 2014

Blog Tour & Review: Big Money by Jack Getze

In this jaunty follow-up to Big Numbers, a scruffy stockbroker returns to tangle with mobsters, women and his own big mouth. The good news, as the story opens, is that the hero is in the company of a gorgeous naked lady. The bad news is that she’s pointing a shotgun at him. It’s a typical predicament for Austin Carr, a semi-shady New Jersey financial professional temporarily in charge of Shore Securities…He’s being extorted into opening a money-laundering account for local crime boss Bluefish; an auditor who was investigating his company has turned up murdered; a fetching state police captain figures he’s the key to her organized-crime probe; and his boss’s mother has been picked up for fixing her church bingo game.

Amazon/B&N/Goodreads

About the Author:

Former Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Getze is Fiction Editor for Anthony nominated Spinetingler Magazine, one of the internet’s oldest websites for noir, crime, and horror short stories. Through the Los Angeles Times/Washington Post News Syndicate, his news and feature stories were published in over five-hundred newspapers and periodicals worldwide. His two screwball mysteries, BIG NUMBERS and BIG MONEY, are being reissued by DOWN & OUT BOOKS, with the new BIG MOJO to follow. His short stories have appeared in A Twist of Noir and Beat to a Pulp. Getze is an Active Member of Mystery Writers of America’s New York Chapter.

http://austincarrscrimediary.blogspot.com/

Jennifer’s Review of Big Money

Review (3.5 Stars): This is the second book in the Austin Carr mystery series and I’m was pleasantly surprised with this book. Austin Carr always seems to get himself in hot water especially when he is asked to “watch” over things for his boss while he takes a long vacation from the investment firm. Soon, he finds himself involved with the local mob boss, murder and dangerous women. Austin never seems to catch a break in this one.

I liked this fast-paced mystery with its crazy antics, over-the-top characters and side-splitting humor. I couldn’t believe the scenarios that Austin seemed to find himself in and they usually ended up with him on the wrong side of a gun. Looking forward to seeing what kind of trouble Austin gets himself involved in with future installments of this series.

March 14, 2014March 13, 2014

Interview & giveaway with Terry Spear

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Terry Spear back on the blog to chat about her newest book Silence of the Wolf.

Terry, for those who missed you last time can you please share with us a little about yourself
Terry: I love to write! Make award-winning teddy bears that have found homes all over the world. Love to do photography, garden, and visit wolf and other reserves all over while doing my research. I’m a retired military officer and live near Waco, Texas—where it’s hot 3 seasons of the year!

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Terry: I’ve always, always told stories, either orally or written them down. My father used to tell us stories when we were kids. I really didn’t think of authoring a book until I began teaching my children to read, and then I began to write children’s stories and read them to my children. One was passed along to a second editor, but they had another book that was coming out that year that she felt might be too similar. But it encouraged me to believe in my storytelling. From there, I started my first historical romance story. I had some of my paranormal romances picked up, sold a couple of Young Adult paranormal stories, and then went on to write a popular Highland series. Then Sourcebooks picked up Heart of the Wolf, and I just received the word that the sixteenth book in the series, A Silver Wolf Christmas, will be available in October 2015.

Are you a plotter or a punster or combo of both? And you explain the difference?
Terry: Total pantser, seat of the pants writer. I do think of the goals and motivations for the main characters, and how I want to open the scene and how the hero and heroine meet. But other than that, I couldn’t plan out the rest of the story even if you gave me a year’s supply of my favorite Christmas thin mints. My brain just doesn’t work that way. I really think it’s cool how other authors can do that, but for me, as I’m writing, things will just start to come together, twists in the plot happen, a conversation takes place between the characters that I didn’t plan. A kiss suddenly occurs when I wasn’t ready for it, but the characters are. Much more fun and lots less predictable! 🙂

What is your most interesting writing quirk?
Terry: I HAVE to have a title on my page before I can write the story. Some authors can just write and come up with a title later. But I can’t. I can’t start with Chapter 1, until I can save it by a title. Sometimes titles are changed, and sometimes it works okay, but sometimes I’ve been working on the story by that title for so long, that’s what I remember it by! 🙂

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
Terry: Silence of the Wolf is about Tom Silver’s story. In Destiny of the Wolf, Book 2, this was the first mention of the Silver wolf pack in Silver Town, Colorado. The wolf brothers, triplets, have been much loved since that first book, but I had so many other book obligations, I couldn’t get Tom’s in there. So he’s the youngest brother, looking for wolves that are scaring the farmer’s sheep, suspecting they’re not strictly wolves, when he’s given the task during a recent snowstorm to watch over a woman who’s not all wolf, a news reporter writing about the ski resort. It’s a murder mystery, sexy, romantic, adventurous, and humorous—from a wolf pack perspective.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

Terry: I love to share a lot of reality in my urban fantasy romance series, so one of the things that fans had asked me was if I’d ever explain which wolves came first: red wolves or gray wolves. I had mentioned this in two earlier stories, but left it up to the reader’s imagination as to which came first. It was a debate between gray wolves and red wolves, you see. Each side said they came first. In Silence of the Wolf readers will learn the truth. Another thing I wanted to make some mention of was the Silver cousins and what had happened to them. I’d always felt badly that they’d left the pack. So I wanted to do something about that. 🙂

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
Terry: I just finished writing Jaguar Pride, book 4 in the Heart of the Jaguar series, and I am editing it. I always love this part because the book is done, and I get to read a “finished” book from the beginning to the end. I’m also starting to write A SEAL Wolf for Sale, and The Viking’s Highland Lass.

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
Terry: I loved Sandra Brown’s romance stories, and I just got a follow from her on Pinterest. I was so surprised and had a real fan-girl moment. I learned from that that she was born in Waco, Texas, near where I live. So it was just amazing to me.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Terry: Never give up, keep writing, revising, learning the craft (and this is forever, even after you’re multi-published), and submitting.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.
Terry: I would love to go to Ireland, France, Prince Edward Island, Scotland again, England, Germany. 🙂

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
Terry: Right now, I’m reading 8 books for the Rita and getting ready to turn in a book on deadline! 🙂 That’s all I have time for.

What is one book everyone should read before they die?
Terry: Mine. I mean, you know, just to experience a wolf’s life.

What is your favorite time of year & why?
Terry: Winter. We have mild winters here and all other seasons can be lumped into summer. No bugs in winter, so I love it.

Who is your Celebrity crush? And what would you do if you ever meet them?
Terry: Gerard Butler. Take a picture. If he could be reading one of my Highland wolf books, while wearing a kilt as I took a picture of him, even better.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
Terry: I’ll be going to several readers’ conventions this year including: Authors After Dark in Charlotte, NC; Readers and Ritas in Dallas, TX, Chicago-North Spring-Fling and book signing in Chicago, Romance Writers of America National Conference and signing, San Antonio, TX; RT Booklovers Convention in New Orleans and I’ll be signing in MN in the fall also.

******

SILENCE OF THE WOLF

IN STORES MARCH 2014 \

Life For the Silver Pack Just Got Wilder…

Elizabeth Wildwood has been a longer all her life, ostracized because of her “mixed” half-wolf, half-coyote blood. When she ventures into gray wolf territory on a dangerous quest of her own and his thrown together with the sexiest shifter she’s ever met she begins to wish for the first time that she could be part of a family.

When this unusual shifter female comes into his pack’s territory, it’s Tom Silver’s job to protect her—if only she would let him.

Praise for Silence of the Wolf:

“The outstanding and gripping plot of Spear’s latest installment in the Heart of the Wolf series will appeal to paranormal fans, and romance junkies will take delight in the red-hot love story embedded within.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

USA Today bestselling author Terry Spear has written over fifty paranormal romance novels and five medieval Highland historical romances. Her 2008 novel, Heart of the Wolf, was named a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year (romance category). A retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry creates award-winning teddy bears that have found homes all over the world. She lives in Texas. For more information, please visit http://terryspear.com/

*****

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March 12, 2014March 11, 2014

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Hot Rock by Annie Seaton

I’m excited to be a part of this tour for Entangled Publishing. Please visit the rest of stops on this tour for guest posts, reviews and prizes.

Megan Miller is on a dream trip to research her doctoral thesis at a rock festival in England. When she arrives in town she’s stunned that her temporary neighbor is the spitting image of her 70’s rock idol, too bad he’s also a world-class jerk. So why can’t she stop thinking about him?

Seventies rock star Davy Morgan is a man with a secret: rockin’ in one time and living in another. He holds his privacy close to his heart, so when a beautiful girl who not only loves but truly understands his music moves in next door, he works overtime to keep her at a distance. Easier said than done.

Megan follows Davy to the rock festival, but it’s not what or when it seems. The lure of the music draws them closer, but can their newfound love span across the decades, or will it get lost in time?

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the Author:

Annie Seaton lives on the beautiful east coast of Australia, where she loves sitting in her writing chair, gazing at the ocean and writing stories. She has always been fascinated by romance and has found her niche writing contemporary romance.
Her debut novel, Holiday Affair, a contemporary romance set in the South Pacific was released as part of Entangled Publishing’s Indulgence line in March. The sequel Italian Affair was published Spring 2013, followed quickly by Outback Affair,Dangerous Desire and Tangling with the CEO! Blind Lust, is one of Annie’s favorite novels. Despite the title…it is a sweet romance about a witch and her difficult choice between two men.

Website /Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

Jennifer’s Review of Hot Rock

Review (3.5 Stars): One of the things that I liked about this unique time travel story was its main character, Megan. She has come all the way to England to attend the Glastonbury music festival to fulfill a dream and finish her thesis about rock music. Even though her professional career is in turmoil due to the actions of previous boyfriend, she is determined to fight and enjoy what little time she has at the festival. I liked her strength and determination in this book and she wasn’t going to let anything get her down.

When she meets David, the next door neighbor, it is like a dream come true because he looks exactly like her rock idol from the seventies. The more time she spends with him, she can’t shake the feeling that everything isn’t what it seems and David sounds too much like her favorite singer. What Megan doesn’t know is that “David” is from the past and has found an interesting way to visit the future on the property where she is staying for the festival. I had a hard time connecting to Davy because he was a jerk to Megan for a good half of the book. He may have been a rock god but I just couldn’t see them as a great couple. I liked this well-written story even though I didn’t fall in love with Davy like Megan did and I’m interested in reading more stories from this author.

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